A Strategic Formation in the 1787-1792 Ottoman-Russian and Austrian War: Kuban Khanate

Abstract

As a result of the Russian Tsardom’s plan to expand into the Caucasus and the Balkans, an independent Crimean Khanate was established after the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca in 1774. Russia’s efforts to expand against the Ottoman Empire were carefully monitored by the Babıali. In 1783, Russia’s annexation of Crimea increased the tension between the two states considerably. Four years after the occupation of Crimea, the last war of the 18th century broke out between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Tsardom in 1787. After the independence of Crimea, the Ottoman Empire was working to strengthen the defense line in its territory in the Northeastern Black Sea. When the 1787-1792 Ottoman-Russian and Austrian War began, the Empire developed a new strategy to prevent the tribes here from crossing over to the Russian side and to mount a strong defense. In line with this strategy, the Empire created the Kuban Khanate and appointed the Crimean Girays as the head of this khanate. Our study explores the roles of the Crimean Girays as Kuban Khans in the Ottoman Empire, focusing on their last service as “Sultans” in the Ottoman army. In the context of knowing the strategic move made by the Ottoman Empire to strengthen its military power, it is aimed to understand the roles of the communities living in the region in this struggle. In our article, the pre-war situation of the region and the Nogais forming the Kuban Khanate were briefly introduced. Then the activities of the Kuban Khans Şahbaz Giray Sultan and Baht Giray Sultan during the Ottoman-Russian and Austrian War of 1787-1792 were described. The services of the Crimean Girays in the Ottoman army were discussed by utilizing archival documents, Ottoman chronicles and research works. © 2024, Abidin Temizer. All rights reserved.